26 UTILIZATION OF CALIFORNIA EUCALYPTS. 
suffer less from abrasion, also, than piles of other species. The 
life of blue-gum piling has shown great variation at the several 
ports where it has been used, due probably to the difference of infesta- 
tion by the marine borers at the different places, and to the difference 
in season of cutting. The resistance of the piles to the marine borers 
is believed by some pile users to be entirely due to hardness; by others, 
to the oils contained in the wood; and by still others to the combina- 
tion of the two. Those who hold to the first view advocate cutting the 
trees when they are most nearly dormant; those who hold to the sec- 
ond, when growth is vigorous. The first generally advocate thorough 
seasoning; while the second insist that the piles should be driven 
green. The practice of driving the piles green is probably the best, 
for it prevents not only the loss of the oils by seasoning but also exces- 
sive checking. Old, slow-grown trees are to be preferred in all cases. 
Owing to their weight, eucalyptus piles are of course more expensive 
to handle than other timbers. 
Very little eucalyptus has been used for cross-ties in the United 
States. A few hundred blue-gum ties were laid by the Southern 
Pacific Company in central Nevada some years ago. They exhibited 
good wearing qualities and had the requisite strength, but in some 
cases failed to hold the spikes, probably because the ties were laid 
while the wood was green, and consequently split badly in a short 
time. The ties lasted for four years without signs of decay, but at 
the end of eleven years few were still intact. If they had been 
thoroughly and carefully air seasoned before laying, better results 
might have been obtained. 
At present eucalyptus for ship work and general construction 
purposes is obtained largely from foreign countries. As soon as the 
California material has had time to reach the necessary size, and 
the proper methods of seasoning have been worked out, it will 
probably be used to a considerable extent for structural purposes, 
since it possesses the necessary strength and is durable when not 
brought into contact with the soil. Eucalyptus has been used only 
to a very limited extent as a mine timber. 
Thoroughly dry eucalyptus possesses every requisite of a first- 
class furniture wood. There has never been any attempt on a 
large scale to manufacture furniture from eucalyptus, but several 
sample pieces have been made with excellent success. The wood 
has a beautiful grain and takes a high polish. If thoroughly sea- 
soned material is used there is little danger that furniture or finish 
made from it will not hold its shape. 
The value of eucalyptus, particularly blue gum, for insulator pins, 
has been thoroughly demonstrated. Eucalyptus pins have been 
[Cir. 179] 
